A FEW DAYS LATER, as I took my evening meal, Bette the cook winked1 and drew me aside. There's a way, she said. If you still want to see the Tavern2.
How? I asked, leaning in close. And how soon?
It's not exactly a state secret, jester. People have to eat, don't they? Guards, soldiers... even prisoners. Every day my kitchen brings the evening meal to the dungeon3. Who would mind if it was brought by the fool?
My eyes lit up. The fool doing errands for the cook. It could work.
I will give it a try, Bette said. The rest is up to you. If your wife is there, Hugh, it will take more than luck to get her out. Just don't bring the duke's awful wrath4 down on me.
I took her hand and squeezed it. I would bring nothing down upon you except my gratitude5. I owe you much, Bette.
I told you, I owe you my cousins' lives.
But somehow, I think it is more than what I did for Geoffrey, Isabel, and Thomas on the road here.
She smiled and tossed a turnip6 into the pot. Baldwin is our liege. She sniffed7. But he can never rule our hearts. I see why you have come. I can see you are in love. These hands may be rough and ugly, but I am not so removed from matters of the heart.
I began to blush. Am I so transparent8?
Don't worry, love, no one else would notice. They're too busy grabbing their sides and laughing at your silly jokes.
I raised an onion the way one would raise a mug to make a toast. We will keep each other's trust, Bette.
She lifted a turnip. We tapped them together.
I feel a headache coming on. She frowned. Tomorrow eve. Be here at dusk.
And something else, Hugh. You asked if a woman was being held in the cells. I checked. There is a lady staying in the Tavern. One who might fit your wife's description. Fair-haired. And she keeps talking about an infant.
These words... They were like the most exquisite9 magic for my soul. What was only a hope for so long now sprang free.Sophie was here! I knew it now. I would see her tomorrow night. At last!
I hugged Bette, almost knocking the poor woman into her pot of soup.


1
winked
![]() |
|
v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 );递眼色(表示友好或高兴等);(指光)闪烁;闪亮 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2
tavern
![]() |
|
n.小旅馆,客栈;小酒店 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3
dungeon
![]() |
|
n.地牢,土牢 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4
wrath
![]() |
|
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5
gratitude
![]() |
|
adj.感激,感谢 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6
turnip
![]() |
|
n.萝卜,芜菁 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7
sniffed
![]() |
|
v.以鼻吸气,嗅,闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 );抽鼻子(尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气);抱怨,不以为然地说 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8
transparent
![]() |
|
adj.明显的,无疑的;透明的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9
exquisite
![]() |
|
adj.精美的;敏锐的;剧烈的,感觉强烈的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |